Discipline Cost Nz, Says Carlos
Illawarra Mercury
Wednesday November 19, 2003
ALL Blacks five-eighth Carlos Spencer has blamed a lack of hunger and discipline in Saturday's semifinal for his side's Rugby World Cup failure.
Spencer, one of many below-par All Blacks in their 22-10 defeat by the Wallabies, yesterday urged New Zealand rugby fans and powerbrokers not to blame coach John Mitchell for the result.
He said the players were responsible for the loss which sealed New Zealand's fourth successive fruitless World Cup campaign.
``They (the Wallabies) just wanted it more than us on the night," Spencer said.
``They played the game we wanted to play, everything we did didn't work and at the end of the day discipline cost us.
``When you put on a black jersey, you don't want any side wanting it more than you do.
``That was the pretty disappointing thing about Saturday night."
Mitchell admitted the Bledisloe Cup holders and Tri-Nations champions failed when the pressure was applied on rugby's biggest stage.
But he would not publicly comment on what he thought the reasons were until after his side's third place play-off against France in Sydney tomorrow.
© 2003 Illawarra Mercury